Trident Maple or Katsura tree (cercidiphyllum japonicum)

last year

Hi- I’m debating between a Trident Maple and a Katsura tree for my front yard. Central New Jersey, now classified as zone 7. There is ample space for either of these trees but not a ginormous tree. Enough sunlight as well. The main consideration is consistent and reliable fall colour. I am able to find both trees in the 2.5” Caliper range. There isn’t enough information on either out there from people who have grown both of these themselves. Trident maple is seen more in bonsai practice and less in actual in-ground plantation. Will appreciate any views and experiences that folks here may have..

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

last year

I live in an area of recurring summer droughts. We receive almost no rainfall from July through the end of September. Katsura/Cercidiphyllum thrive here once established. In fact, the cultivar 'Heronswood Globe' was developed at the nursery of the same name just a few miles away.

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Comments (11)

bengz6westmd
last year
last modified: last year
I'm a big fan of katsura tree. Mine does grow fairly fast, which is what I wanted. So you know what my vote is. Bark is interesting, trunk at about 15 yrs old below:
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
last modified: last year
beng... could that tree had been pruned into more of a tree shape.. or is it always shrub like in shape and form? ???
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bengz6westmd
last year
last modified: last year
ken, I've read that katsura tree is not prone to branch breakage, and to let it grow as is. The recent very wet-snow event demonstrated that -- not the slightest issue on my katsura tree. If you look closely, the branch forks are well-structured and not V-forks. Pic of it this past autumn showing its general rather fastigiate form after 19 yrs.
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sah_upstate4 (zone 5b - NY)
last year
last modified: last year
How important is the "reliable" fall color for you? My understanding is that some A. buergerianum don't produce "nice" fall color reliably. I certainly wouldn't pick any individual specimen of that without seeing it in fall first.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Be aware that the katsura has the ability to grow to twice the size of the maple. Unless you select one of the more compact cultivars, like Heronswood Globe.

btw, fall coloring of a tree is generally very heavily influenced by siting and weather conditions, much less on individual specimens.
bengz6westmd
last year
The fall color is reliable enough in many areas, but not in frost hollows where I'm at. Usually mine gets frozen early and leaves turn brown and fall off (same for many of my trees). The pic above was unusual because frost was delayed long enough for it to color. Still, the color is just a bonus for an otherwise very handsome and reliable tree by my experience.
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artinnaturez8b
last year
>>The main consideration is consistent and reliable fall colour.

I'll throw Acer triflorum into the ring. I have observed this species in Boston, Philly, Minnesota, Seattle and Oregon and the fall colour has always been top-notch.
indianagardengirl
last year
I might also throw Nyssa sylvatica into the mix because of the generally wonderful fall color. This one is a very young Autumn Cascade.
Dutch
last year
If you live in a region with late spring frost and/or summer drought than Cercidiphyllum is not a good choice.
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bengz6westmd
last year
Dutch, I have a katsura tree (posted above), and live in a bad frost hollow, and mine, at least, suffers less damage from the late frosts than many other of my trees.
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